Film point and shoot with powerful flash

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NeeZee

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I'm into (direct) flash photography lately and was wondering if there is a model with an above average powerful built-in flash. I have an Olympus XA with A16 flash but it's not internal and makes the camera far less compact. I also would like to have 28mm. Is there any camera with a flash of guide number of at least 16 (in metres) at 28mm and f4? I wouldn't mind a zoom lens. I own a Nikon AF600 (aka LiteTouch) with a 28/3.5 fixed lens but the flash is really weak (my problem is, I like to shoot 100 iso slide film with flash). Digital alternatives are welcome, too.
Thanks!
 
farlymac said:
...bracket to mount another slave flash...

PF
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don't think he will buy the bracket-flash concept, because he even consider " Olympus XA with A16 flash" to be "far less compact,:D

i believe a Yashica T4 would be close if you consider Terry Richardson's fashion snap point and shoot with powerful flash.
 
I´m shooting with P&S/flash since some weeks on Polypan F. The mju-II, the Big Mini HG and the Yashica T5 showed the most power so far.
 
pinkarmy said:
i believe a Yashica T4 would be close if you consider Terry Richardson's fashion snap point and shoot with powerful flash.
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Yep. That or the Olympus Infinity, or Ricoh GR1, or maybe a Canon MC. Don't have direct experience with any of the ones I mentioned, but I've used the T4 and it's a solid performer.
 
T4 though 35mm... You can't have everything. The contax TVS doesn't have a bad flash either and it's a 28mm and cheaper than a t4. I own both.
 
I were amazed to see original flash for Minox 35 GT - like an extension of camera, mountable in hot shoe. Judging from the size of flash window GN could be at least 21 (in meters). Not too compact, though.
 
btgc said:
I were amazed to see original flash for Minox 35 GT - like an extension of camera, mountable in hot shoe. Judging from the size of flash window GN could be at least 21 (in meters). Not too compact, though.
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Not bad; the GN is 18/100 ASA. When shooting at night, setting the right distance on the Minox is not really pleasing. I prefer an active AF then.
 
In general, compact camera flashes seem to have had pretty constant power, but later cameras had wider lenses (and corresponding flash illumination) than the older ones, so that their effective guide number drops. Older cameras with 35-50mm lenses and corresponding reflectors probably are your best bet. Zooms on the other hand tend to be very slow, and come attached with a camera with a somewhat wide end (and usually wide, non-zooming reflector) - if you are into low light photography most of the zoom compacts are useless (but there are a few exceptions that are faster than f/3.5 at the wide end).
 
Thanks all for the input. I have a metz mecablitz 34 cs-2 coming my way from ebay. Its intended use is for my Leica IIIf but I just noticed it has a slave function as well. Won't make a compact setup compared to internal flash but i'll just play around with it a bit - point and shoot in one hand and cordless flash in the other might be fun.. Was thinking about the T4, too, but the prices are quite over the top (that's the TR hype I guess :) ).

The ROLLEI QZ 35T looks pretty cool - never seen that one before. I found a sepc which says GN is 20 - wouldn't be surprised if that refers to the upper 90mm end of the zoom, though (GN's seems to be all marketing nowadays...). Not that compact anyway, of course.
 
yes NZ the rollei is not only good looking, it has an HFT lens that is truly spectacular. i have one, but have not ever used the flash. if tou have any questions, or would like me to consult the manual for certain specs, let me know.
tony
 
Um, isn't the guide number variable with the film speed? Not aperture?

Anyway, looking out of curiosity I find the Olympus mju-II / Stylus Epic gives a range of 0.35 to 8.2m and 400 ASA film. Guessing 8.2 is the range at 2.8 we get a metric GN of 23-ish. That seems enough, imo. A pity the lens is only (?) 35mm focal length...

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
Um, isn't the guide number variable with the film speed? Not aperture?
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The guide number is defined as "range at f/1" (at ISO100 unless specified otherwise), to use in calculations for the appropriate aperture to a given (closer) distance. For a fixed lens, fixed automatic flash compact, range might be a more meaningful number - GN20 on a camera with a zoom starting at f/4.5 is the same 4-5m range as a mere GN12 on a f/2.8 one.
 
David Hughes said:
Exactly but it's seldom given like that and usually with the one for ASA 400 film...
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By DIN/ISO standard they may only use the bare GN for ISO 100 - if they give another, they must explicitly state the sensitivity along with it. But YMMV in the home of the metrically challenged - and hereabouts they stopped mentioning the GN anywhere except in the small print once computer flashes had become standard...
 
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